Lineup Notes:
- Thursday evening in the great state of Florida as the LA Galaxy will play in their third and final Group Stage contest of the MLS is Back Tournament, needing a three-goal win in order to advance.
- LA Galaxy Head Coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto will make two changes to the lineup from last weekend’s match vs. LAFC: Nick DePuy slots in for Giancarlo Gonzalez and Ethan Zubak enters in favor of Emil Cuello.
- In net, David Bingham will continue between the pipes for LA. He has 167 total MLS appearances in his career between LA and SJ.
- Making his third-straight start of the group stage and his fifth straight of the season, Rolf Feltscher will continue along the backline for GBS.
- Daniel Steres makes his third-straight group stage start along the backline after captaining the side against LAFC on Saturday. He has made 104 appearances as a member of the LA Galaxy. It will mark his 97th start.
- Alongside Steres is Nick DePuy, the 2019 LA Galaxy II Player of the year, who started in the club’s first two games this season and put in impressive showings. DePuy has made his mark as a defender after originally being drafted as a forward by Montreal in the 2017 SuperDraft.
- On the left side is the Argentine Emiliano Insua, who makes his fifth start since joining the club this offseason. The veteran defender has had stints for various teams in top-flight leagues of England, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.
- Joe Corona makes his second-straight start after missing the opening game of the tournament due to a red card suspension. Corona makes a notable difference in the Galaxy midfield and will look to help dictate possession on Thursday.
- Alongside Corona is Perry Kitchen, the MLS vet who will make his third start of the Group Stage in Orlando. Kitchen boasts extensive MLS experience across the Galaxy and D.C. United.
- On the right side is Julian Araujo, the talented 18-year-old USYNT player who provided a spark for the club vs. LAFC. He will make his second-straight start higher up the field from his normal right back position.
- Helping pull the strings on offense is USMNT veteran Sebastian Lletget, who is set to make his 95th start for the club.
- Providing the offensive spark on Thursday will be Argentine winger Cristian Pavon, the Galaxy’s explosive playmaker. He has five goals and nine assists in 15 games for the Galaxy during regular season play.
- Up top is LA Galaxy Academy product Ethan Zubak, who makes his first-ever MLS start on Thursday night. The 22-year-old has notched over 25 goals in USL since 2015.
Game notes:
- This is the third ever Group Stage matchup that the LA Galaxy will play on the Walt Disney World campus’ ESPN Wide World of Sports during a global pandemic, expanding on their previous record of two.
- The LA Galaxy will look for their first victory all time in an MLS is Back Tournament.
- Since 1996, Cristian Pavon, Javier Hernandez and Latif Blessing (LAFC) are tied as the LA Galaxy’s all-time leading scorers during MLS is Back Tournaments with one each.
- While in high school, South Florida native Chris Glidden once traveled to Orlando to watch a crush’s high-school cheerleading competition that took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, just steps away from the field that will be used for Thursday night’s contest. It didn’t work out with his crush. It was his only appearance at a cheerleading competition.
Match Storylines:
- Can the Galaxy win by three to advance to the Round of 16 of the MLS is Back Tournament?
- If not, can the Galaxy pick up valuable points that will carry over to a regular season following the tournament?
- Where will the goals come from Saturday for the Galaxy?
- Can LA’s backline bounce back from Saturday’s match?
- What will Ethan Zubak produce in his first MLS start?
- How will Guillermo utilize 5 substitutions in the Florida heat?
- Can Pavon continue his fine form?
Brendan Hannan Storylines
- How long has Brendan’s hair grown since arrival to Orlando?
- How long will Brendan’s hair continue to grow?
- Will Brendan ever get a haircut again?
- If Brendan and A Star is Born look-a-like Bradley Cooper changed jobs, would Bradley Cooper be at all effective in handling the LA Galaxy’s Marketing, Digital and Communications Departments?
Quick hits:
- The LA Galaxy united with all LA pro teams to form Alliance – Los Angeles:
- Pro skater Hakeen Ducksworth’s journey from Compton to the LA Galaxy:
- Our players explained their social justice messages on their jerseys:
- New merch. The Galaxy revealed the TOGETHER AT HOME clothing collection so you can look good while you stay safe at home:
- Black lives matter. Check out the LA Galaxy’s resources for helping in the fight against racism:
I’ll Always Remember Us This Way Lyrics – Lady Gaga (A Star is Born)
That Arizona sky burning in your eyes
You look at me and, babe, I wanna catch on fire
It's buried in my soul like California gold
You found the light in me that I couldn't find
So when I'm all choked up
But I can't find the words
Every time we say goodbye
Baby, it hurts
When the sun goes down
And the band won't play
I'll always remember us this way
Lovers in the night
Poets trying to write
We don't know how to rhyme
But damn we try
But all I really know
You're where I wanna go
The part of me that's you will never die
So when I'm all choked up
But I can't find the words
Every time we say goodbye
Baby, it hurts
When the sun goes down
And the band won't play
I'll always remember us this way
Oh, yeah
I don't wanna be just a memory, baby, yeah
So when I'm all choked up
But I can't find the words
Every time we say goodbye
Baby, it hurts
When the sun goes down
And the band won't play
I'll always remember us this way, oh, yeah
When you look at me
And the whole world fades
I'll always remember us this way
